The hadith that Muslim recorded from him in the Book of Sales was also authenticated by al-Tirmidhi, and is cited in al-Irwa’ (5/203–204).

The hadith under the present heading has another route from Aishah conveying a similar wording, but without the phrase, “or performed a prayer.” It was also recorded by al-Nasa’i (no. 398) and al-Hakim (1/496–497), who said:

“Its chain of transmission is authentic.”

Al-Dhahabi said:

“I say: It meets the conditions of al-Bukhari and Muslim.”

Note: Al-Hafiz cited the hadith in his Nukat with the wording:

“The Prophet never sat in a gathering, recited the Quran, or performed a prayer without concluding it with certain words.”

So I said: “O Messenger of Allah, how often you say these words!” He said:

“Yes. Whoever says something good, they serve as a seal upon that good; and whoever says something evil, they serve as an expiation for him …”

The rest of the hadith is the same.

This is how it appears there. Yet it plainly differs from the wording of the hadith under the present heading; it likewise differs from its wording in al-Fath and from its wording in Sunan al-Nasa’i as well (1/197), with the very same chain of transmission. It therefore appears to be another narration of al-Nasa’i.

Then I saw that he had cited it earlier, under no. 308, beneath the chapter heading, “What Concludes the Recitation of the Quran.” He said: Muhammad ibn Sahl ibn Askar informed us; Ibn Abi Maryam narrated to us; Khallad ibn Sulayman Abu Sulayman informed us through the same chain.

I say: This too is an authentic chain of transmission meeting Muslim’s conditions. This Ibn Abi Maryam is Sa‘id ibn al-Hakam ibn Muhammad al-Misri.